offutt



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. E. OFPUTT.

HAY TEDDEB..

(No Model.)

No. 320,085. Patented June 16, 1885.

N- PEI'ERS, Fimo-Lithographef. Wuhllllloi DV C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. E. OFFUTT.

HAY T-BDD'ER.

No. 320,085 PatenlsedJuneA 16, 1885.

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rares Nrrn JOSEPH E. OFFU'IT, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH \V. THOMAS, OF SAME PLACE.

HAY-TEDDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320.085, dated June 16, 1885.

Application filed May 1Q, 1884.

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, J osEPH E. OFFUTT,a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hay-Tedders, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein io the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hay-tedders; and it has for its object to provide means for operating the tedder-shaft by frictional contact with the peripheries of the supporting-wheels.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and on which like letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding features, Figure l represents a side elevation' of my improved tedder, (shown in connection with a rake,) the tedder--arms being in operative position; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same, Fig. 8, asectional view of themachine, taken in a line of the draft, showing` t-he tedder mechanism in operative position in full lines and out of such position in dotted lines; Fig. 4, detail views ofthe means for connecting with the frame of the machine the forward ends ofthe connecting or radius rods L; Fig. 5, a side elevation of the said frictional wheel and its attached devices; Fig. 6, a front View of the same; Fig. 7, aside elevation of themachine, with some of the parts removed, showing the modified means of operating the tedder-shaft; Fig. 8, a rear view of one of the tedder-arms, showing the coupling and the tedder-teeth connected therewith; Fig. 9, a side elevation ofthe same, and Fig. 10 a plan view of a portion of the tedder-fraine,showing the clutch and the connecting` devices employed in the modified form of operating the tedder-shaft.

The letter A designates the frame of the machine proper, the same being constructed in any approved manner and provided with the usual draftthills,B. The axle-spindles C pass loosely through the brackets D, secured to the side pieces of the frame, and are mounted in the supporting-wheels E.

The letter F designates the longitudinal beams of the tedder-i'rame, which are connected at their rear ends by the crossbeam G, and hinged to the main frame at their forward (No model.)

ends, just in the rear of the axlespindles,as at H. By this means the frame may be elevated and held up by any suitable device and the tedder thrown out of operation. The beams F are supplied with journal-boxes in which is' tted the teddershat't I, having a series of cranks, which are disposed relatively with each other at an angle of about one hundred and twenty degrees. On each of the cranks 1sI mounted a tedder-arm, J, the upper ends ot which are connected with the transverse beam K of the main frame through the medium of the rods L. The connecting-rods L extend into the sleeves M, which are pivotally connected with the brackets N, which are in turn connected with the transverse beam K, and the rods are provided with collars O, which bear against spiral springs P, iitted within said sleeves. a yielding connection is formed between the frame of the machine and the Jredder-arms, whereby they are made free to yield to any obstruction with which they lnay come in contact.

To the lower ends of the tedder-arms J are connected, by bolts or otherwise, the metallic clamps Q, consisting each of two parts, and provided, respectively, with semicircular adjacent grooves at each side of the said arm. These parts are firmly bound together by means of bolts and nuts R, and the tedderteeth at one end are iitted within said grooves, whereby they are united to the tedder-arms. The tedder-teeth S after leaving the clamps are bent forwardly, thence upwardly, thence rearwardly, thence slightly outwardly or laterally, and, iinally, downwardly, so as to form yielding teeth, and so as,also,to clear the edges of the clamps should they meet with any obstruction.

The letter T refers tothe frame mounted on the ends of the lredder-shaft, carrying a friction-roller, U, provided on its periphery with a leather or other cover, so as to obtain the required frictional capacity. On the spindle of this roller is a pinion, V, which meshes with another pinion, \V, rigidly mounted on the tedder-shaft. The upper end of the frame T is connected by an actuatingrod, X, to an arm extending from a rock-shaft, Y, mounted in bearings in the forward part of the frame. The connection between this arm and the rod By this means not only a pivotal but i X is effected by means of an eyebolt, which extends through the arm, and into which the rod hooks; and it is provided with a nut, Z, and a spring is interposed between it and the arm, whereby the yielding joint is formed. A lever, A, extends from the rock-shaft Y, and serves as a medium by which to separate or bring in contact the friction-rollers U and the supporting-wheels, and also as a means to regulate the pressure of the one against the other.

In order to prevent the tedder-frame from being accidentally elevated, a chain, C', is connected thereto and passed over a sheave, D; thence to a lever, E', mounted on the rockshal't Y, and which may be held in place by a segment and detent of the usual construction, if desired. The lever A may also be held by the same means.

As show'n in Fig. 7, the frame Tand its several devices are removed and the sprocket- Wheel substituted, a drive-chain and anotherl y sprocket-wheel, attached to the supportingwheel, being also provided.

It will be observed that when the machine is drawn forward the frictional contact between the peripheries ofthe supporting-wheels and the friction-rollerswill impart rotary motion to the tedder-shaft,'and thereby actuate 1. In a tedder, the combination, with the tedder-shaft having a pinion, of the frictionrollers provided with an intergearing pinion and mounted in frames pivoted to said shaft.

2. In a hay-tedder, the combination, with the tedder-shaft having pinions, of the friction-rollers having intergearing pinions, and mounted in a frame pivoted to said shaft, and the actuating-rod and rock-shaft yieldingly united.

3. In a hay-tedden, the combination, with the tedder-arm, of the connecting-rod, the pivoted sleeve, and the spring mounted on the main frame.

4. In a hay-tedder, the combination, with the tedder -arm, of the connecting-rod provided with a collar, the pivoted sleeve, and the spiral spring therein, said sleeve being connected to the main frame of the machine.

5. In a hay-tedder, the combination, with the tedder-arm, of the clamp, constructed of two parts and provided with adjacent grooves, and the teeth fitted in said grooves and bent forwardly, t-hence upwardly, thence rearwardly, thence slightly outwardly or laterally, and nally downwardly.

6. In a hay-tedder, the combination, with the tedder-shaft, of the friction-rollers geared therewith, mounted in aframe pivoted to said shaft, and the actuating-rods connected at one end with the frame in which said rollers are mounted, and the rock-shaft, to which the rods are connected, at the other.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Jos'EPH E. oFFUTT.

V tnesses:

WILBER CoLvIN, FERD STATE. 

